Detroit School bailout “final answer,” require warrant for electonic data search, much more

The Legislature has adjourned for a summer recess. Due to the number of bills considered in the final week, some votes will be reported next week's Roll Call Report.

House Bill 5383, Detroit Public Schools bailout: Passed 20 to 17 in the Senate

To concur with the House-passed version of the Detroit school district bailout bill (see description at bottom of this report), with two minor clarifications. The bill does not contain provisions previously passed by the Senate that would give a mayoral commission the power to ration charter schools in Detroit.

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To authorize more rigorous sanctions and more certain procedures for public school teachers who participate in an illegal strike. The bill was opposed by all but one Democrat (Johnson) and Republican Senators Casperson, Hansen, Horn, Rocca, and Schmidt.

House Bill 5457, Repeal auto insurance company tax credit: Passed 29 to 7 in the Senate

To repeal a controversial tax credit auto insurance companies can collect based on payments into an “insurance placement facility” or high risk pool for individuals, and other expenses. Reportedly the companies are collecting $80 million annually for the credit, which they claim would otherwise be tacked on to customer bills.

House Bill 5578, Clarify "big box" store property taxation: Passed 97 to 11 in the House

To require property tax assessors to assess “big box” stores based more on "highest and best use" factors rather than a lower value based on claims that the property would not be easily filled if vacant. This refers to whether these large structures are uniquely less valuable if vacant than other commercial properties that are supposedly easier to use for other purposes.

House Bill 5642, Authorize PPOs to let protected individual keep cell phone number: Passed 107 to 1 in the House

To allow an individual protected under a personal protection order to keep a cell phone number for which they are not the actual customer. The bill authorizes courts to order the phone company to make it so.

House Bill 4388, Authorize 3-mill "sinking fund" tax for school security and computers: Passed 107 to 1 in the House

To allow school districts to impose a 3 mill property tax for 10 years for a “sinking fund” that can be used to buy computer equipment, software and security equipment. Under current law schools can levy up to 5 mills for 20 years for a much narrower range of uses.

House Bill 5613, Limit state department rulemaking authority: Passed 61 to 47 in the House

To prohibit a state department from promulgating rules more stringent than required by federal standards, unless specifically required to by state statute, or the department director determines there is a "clear and convincing need" to do so.

To place on the November ballot a state constitutional amendment adding a requirement that government get a warrant to “access a person's electronic data and electronic communication.” This would be added to the Article I provision that recognizes the right of the people to be secure from unreasonable government searches and seizures of their “person, houses, papers, and possessions.”

House Bill 5384, House's second Detroit school bailout version: Passed 55 to 53 in the House

To give the insolvent Detroit school district $467 million to pay off debt, and another $150 million for unspecified "transition costs," and hand over control from state receivership to an elected school board, subject to oversight from a state board created as part of the city's 2014 bankruptcy and state bailout. Some of these provisions are in other bills in a final legislative package that does not contain a controversial mayoral commission with the power to ration charter schools in the city.

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit http://www.MichiganVotes.org.

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